Taking The Bite Out of Summer
When it comes to mosquitoes I’m sure that we all have horror stories we can relate. For me what immediately comes to mind is a time when I was muskie fishing in northern Minnesota one early August evening. It was as if somebody flipped the proverbial switch and the bite was on…except our concern this time wasn’t about muskies.
No, this time it was mosquitoes and they attacked with a ferocity that I had never experienced before. Worse yet, we had not planned for this ambush so there was no repellent onboard the boat to thwart the attack. Speed, that’s all we had going for us…and it was that speed that took us back to the boat landing where once again WE were the appetizer for an evening smorgasbord as we loaded the boat on the trailer.
Nothing can spoil an otherwise pleasant outdoor experience quicker than mosquitoes. That’s why I will never be caught out in the middle of a lake again without a bottle of repellent – it is now standard equipment within my tackle box. More importantly, with the ever-present threat of West Nile virus not taking extra precautions these days is simply being foolhardy.
Yesterday the government’s Center for Disease Control had mosquitoes on their mind, too. For the first time the CDC is now recommending two other repellent sources beyond the old standby, DEET. Most of the various brand name products we all use have some concentration level of this chemical. Problem is, there is growing concern that some people are not using any repellent with DEET out of fear of applying that particular chemical on their bodies.
Indeed, studies have shown that it is not necessary to have a repellent containing 100% DEET to be effective. Even lower concentration mixtures have been providing beneficial protection. Now, however, people have more “recommended” choices in the form of two new approved substances. With this new CDC backing, repellent manufacturers will likely find it easier to compete against applications that previously contained the only approved substance – DEET.
The two new recommended substances include another chemical called picaridin and a naturally occurring substance in the form of oil of lemon eucalyptus. Expect to see repellent manufacturers taking advantage of this new CDC recommendation in the months to come as promotions for repellent products hit the media.
So what does this all mean to us, the sportsman? Well, for one thing it will give us more options at the store this summer. One person might find that DEET works better while another person will find oil of lemon eucalyptus more pleasing. The strange thing about mosquitoes is they don’t seem to affect everyone in the same way. I have friends who seem blessed with hardly ever receiving a bite while I seem to make up the difference for them.
Keep in mind these other two substances are also proven in that they have been sold and used in many parts of Europe and Australia for years. By being more liberal with their recommendations, CDC experts believe that mosquito repellant will be more widely used now with virtually the same effectiveness.
The main key for sportsmen is to discover what works best for the individual. I’m not sure if there is an odor with the new choices, but I know that for me the smell of DEET would quickly subside minutes after application. Still, I’m curious enough to give these other substances a chance this summer. For me it’s not an option to stay indoors during the “mosquito hours” of early morning and late afternoon/dusk. These are prime hours for being a sportsman and it now appears I have two new weapons against the enemy who likes to spoil my enjoyment of the outdoors.
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© 2005 Jim Braaten. All Rights Reserved. No Reproduction without Prior Permission.